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Financial Literacy: Thinking of your Children

According to youth.gov, most of us learn our money habits and skills from our parents and caregivers, but financial literacy amongst adults is perilously low. Taking charge of your own finances will not only improve your own situation, but can help you set up your children for long term financial success. Acknowledging that your financial literacy has room for improvement is a great first step, and reviewing these articles is good for learning new strategies and making better decisions. But where can you go from here for more in-depth information?

Talk to your financial institution. Some credit unions have programs to help members save money and meet their financial goals. This might include resources to better understand financing or options to improve credit scores. In some instances, it may be included at no cost to you as a benefit of your membership.

Take a class. If you’re looking for something hands-on where you can learn and interact with a skilled practitioner, a semester-long course might be a good option. Some courses include access to online tools where you can practice the skills developed in class. If tuition is not in your budget, look for community education classes or other similar lower cost opportunities.

Hire a financial coach. A coach can help you improve your financial literacy and work towards meeting your financial goals. In some states, veterans and low-income families can access financial coaches at no cost as part of the social services framework.

Attend a boot camp. Whether in person or online, boot camps can be an intensive way to build financial literacy quickly to save money and reduce debt. Many of these are offered for free on the internet.

There is an expansive selection of online tools and smartphone apps to track your spending, credit scores, and investment portfolio, but building a deeper financial literacy is a critical step. Your children will thank you.